Talking to the Moon

Wow....
I sit here trying to type my last post thinking...how can simple silly words describe this experience...thinking how can I transmit the love, care, friendships, experience, stories, fun, etc all into a few words on a blog....and the truth is I can't....I sit here typing these words and letting the tears fall......if only I could let y'all see what I saw here in the DR. If only y'all could feel what I felt. If only y'all were here enjoying it along my side.

Talking to the Moon is one of my favorite songs from Bruno Mars. For those who know me, y'all know I'm always singing it. And I feel this song applies now more than ever before. The song says, "I know your somewhere out there, somewhere far away. I want you back, my neighbors think I'm crazy but they don't understand your all I had. At night when the stars light up my room, I sit by myself talking to the moon....trying to get to you, in hopes your on the other side talking to me too...."
Even with friends, family, or brothers and sisters that we love and cherish, even though they are on the other side of the world, we are all under the same moon.
The brothers and sisters here, our friends and family here in the DR have touched our hearts so much! These past couple days from Sunday to now seem so unreal, it didn't hit me until now that we have to leave. Our friends here since Sunday have been with us, taking advantage of every moment prior to our departure. Sunday they announced once again about us leaving, and after the meeting we had so many hugs and kind words. Monday our friends joined us to the beach and we stayed there all day. But Tuesday...that was hard for me. Tuesday we went to service, afterwards Jordi took us out to eat and to buy some last minute gifts. We went to service again at 6 and enjoyed evening service. Service was so much fun, our friend Isaac had a professional camera with him and he just started taking pictures of all of us in service. Pictures of us preaching, talking, laughing, and just enjoying our time together. After service we invited everyone to the house for some cake and coffee. Wow so many laughs, and as the night went by more and more friends came. Friends we've made from different congregations, just coming one by one to say not goodbye but "see you soon"....again it was so nice to see the mixture of deaf and hearing brothers...Jehovahs organization is so beautiful...having this experience only increases and strengthens our faith and appreciation for Jehovah and all he gives us. Last night tears started coming down too from friends and of course us.
We were even surprised with a gift. A deaf brother from our hall, Jose, such a sweet brother....this brother is a pioneer and you can see his zeal in the ministry. Well last night before he left he gathered us together, he expressed how much he appreciated us and then gave each of us a gift and a letter. This letter is beautiful. I can't wait to show everyone back home. And the tears came down. Words can't express this experience....I think to myself this blog was silly I can't transmit my feelings my tears onto a simple Internet page. But I can only hope I did my best. I hope that all of you who read this blog enjoyed it. I hope that we can get together and talk because this blog is 50% of the experience.
Thank you to all our family and friends who provided so much support. Jehovah really guided us with this trip and it has changed us forever emotionally and spiritually. To each of you with a goal to serve where the need is great in whichever language...DO IT! Plan and prepare and don't worry so much about every little detail because Jehovah will guide and bless. If you can't for a month or 6 months or even a year....not a problem try for 2 weeks or whatever time you have available. If its a goal pursue it.
Our thanks is always to Jehovah, without him none of this could have been possible. We return home as new people, new thoughts, new way of thinking. Praying to ask Jehovah to guide and help us come back soon! Even the CO recently talked with us seeing when we are coming back because he already has an assignment for us. Wow Jehovah couldn't make things any clearer. We found where we belong...and we know Jehovah will help us make that happen. For now we leave but with every intention to come back. We talk to the moon knowing that our friends will do the same. Keeping us in their thoughts and prayers just like we will.
To my roommates, all 5 of you, my appreciation and love is so much stronger now. I remember how I called y'all my "Dominican family" haha...I can't wait for all of us to come back again soon. Together. I know how much the trip helped us all out, and how much it changed us. Lets not ever forget it, let it always be engraved in our hearts. Let us remember Dominican Republic 2013.